Dale Dally-Watkins, Acting Executive Director

As you will have seen in the message yesterday from Alanna Geary (Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer), Metro North is experiencing an increase in people presenting to our Emergency Departments and being admitted with acute respiratory illnesses including influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. We have also experienced an increase in staff sick leave with these illnesses. As such, Metro North has transitioned to Tier 1 of the Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Response Plan.

At STARS the current requirements include:

• P2/N95 masks and eye protection when caring for suspected/confirmed ARI patients.
• Wearing flat surgical masks in all other clinical areas. This includes all areas in which patient care or patient interaction occurs, including but not limited to inpatient wards, ability centres, patient
  dining rooms, procedural centres, outpatient clinics, reception areas, transporting patients within
  the hospital.
• Meetings can continue face to face; however, all meetings should have a TEAMS link provided and consideration to room capacity is required.

All staff are encouraged to ensure:

• Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date and annual fit testing for P2/N95 masks is completed.
• Compliance with mandatory training programs.

I would encourage everyone to review the ARI Response Plan and speak to your line manager if you have any questions or concerns. We are recommending staff to stay home if you are unwell, practice your hand and respiratory hygiene and please inform your line manager as soon as possible via the Smart Leave form on MyHR if you’re off sick.

Best wishes,

Dale.